Assume you have been invited out for a holiday dinner to a family member or friend’s house. It is customary to bring some libations unless you are an ill-mannered lout.
Remember that your host has gone to a great deal of expense and effort in preparing the dinner.
So what do you bring?
- Don’t just grab a bottle you see on the shelf at your retailer
- You might want to ask your host about what wine would suit the dishes assuming of course your host knows appropriate food and wine pairings
- You may want to ask your host what the menu is so you can march into your retailer and ask them what they recommend
- It is not about what wine your host likes but rather what food is being served and what wine suits that food. Your host loves Cabernet Sauvignon but if you are having turkey Cabernet Sauvignon should remain at home!
- You can’t go wrong with a bottle of champagne or crémant
- Don’t forget dessert and wine! Perhaps a bottle of Tawny Port or Late Bottle Vintage Port if there is chocolate involved
- If you bring a bottle of wine that does not suit any of the dishes served don’t expect that it will be served unless of course your host is not wine savvy and would serve anything! As one of my wine educators said years ago at Christmas any wine works as guests will be pickled by the time food is served. Amusing but a gross inaccuracy but in certain situations it might be true unless you are going to a Proud Boys buffet dinner.
The holiday season can be stressful so perhaps this article has stressed you out even more. It was intended to reduce your stress but think about the stress your hosts are under! Surely this stress is better than staying at home and eating Chinese food and watching the Fireplace Channel!
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